Chair, Justice & Witness and I-HAT Teams
Community Church of Durham
Jane Gallant, chair of the Justice and Witness and
CCD Housing and Accompaniment teams writes about her experience related to
immigration since she joined the church three years ago.
My interest in working to support
immigrants began when I joined the church three years ago. I have attended prayer vigils, done the Jericho walks around ICE
headquarters in Manchester, and joined the 4-day solidarity walks from
Manchester and Concord to Strafford County Jail in Dover which ICE uses as a
detention center for immigrants until they are either freed on bond or
deported. The 4-day walk always included educational events which highlighted
the inhumane nature of our immigration policies and the need for real reform.
All these have been worthwhile and meaningful, but COVID-19 has given me the
opportunity to actively engage in the movement to support the release of
immigrant detainees at the jail.
With the encouragement and support of
Pastor Dave, the Immigrant Housing and Accompaniment team evolved from the
Justice and Witness team with the mission to support immigrants who might be
released during this challenging time. I have learned much during these past 3
months. I have experienced the anxiety
of wanting to do it all “right”…not to …“make any mistakes’. I have also learned to trust that the
Holy will be walking with me and others as we engage in this process. The Holy presented herself in the face of the
persons who have worked tirelessly in the state before the pandemic – members
of Immigration/Refugee Support Group (IRSG) and Seacoast Interfaith Support
Coalition (SISC) who have been actively engaged in immigrant justice and
provide bond money, educational programs, and materials to help those who begin
the walk with the newly-released immigrant.
Watching the hearings with Judge
McCafferty, I experienced the face of the Holy, as she listened intently to the
lawyers on both sides of the bench and spoke kindly to the immigrants even when
her ruling had a negative impact on them.
I saw how our immigration policies can make very intelligent, successful
people appear submissive as they wait to hear their fate. I experienced the
Holy as she allowed Ernie to be released, thanks to the provisions that had
been put in place by the Immigrant Housing and Accompaniment team and the
immense support of so many church members.
I experienced the Holy in the people on
the team as they volunteered to partner with the released immigrant. Before
Ernie’s release, we located a Portsmouth hotel, the Fairfield Inn, that was
willing to house an immigrant during quarantine. The staff was kind, helpful,
and welcoming. Our backpack team filled a “welcome” backpack with the
necessities he would need during quarantine. Upon his release, others began
their ministries: Pastor Dave, as Ernie’s guardian, would be the first person Ernie
would connect with after 22 months of detention; point persons who connected
with Ernie at the hotel daily, and facilitated and communicated Ernie’s needs
to the team and congregants; our tech support person who set up the phone and
tablet so Ernie could communicate with us and his family, speaking to his
mother for the first time since he entered the US; the meal organizer and meal
preparers who not only provided meals while Ernie was in quarantine for 14 days
but also engaged in heartfelt conversations with him; the host home providers
who so warmly have offered hospitality to Ernie. The Holy was present in church
members who provided financial support for hotel accommodations for the
quarantine period as well as a phone, a tablet and other items that may be
needed.
This has been a learning experience for me
and I am grateful to be part of this team and a member
of Community Church of Durham.
